Eqi Glacier Adventure

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Feel the power of Greenland´s ice cap. Stay close to Eqi glacier, discover the remote area, hear the crumbling sounds of the calving glacier and experience the realm of icebergs in the Icefjord by Ilulissat.

Discount may apply on some departure dates, depending on lower airfare availability. Ask for availability.

Day 1: Check-in at Reykjavik domestic airport for the flight to Ilulissat is at least 1 hr prior to departure.Departure from Reykjavik at 10:15/10:45*, arrival in Ilulissat at 11:30/12:00* (local times, flight duration approx. 3 hrs)Upon arrival at Ilulissat airport transfer to your hotel where you stay for 3 nights. Guided city walk in the afternoon: with the culture-historical walk you will get an enhanced understanding of the Greenlandic culture and history, which will give the other experiences in Greenland a new perspective.Ilulissat – Jakobshavn - was founded in 1741 and it is today the third biggest town in Greenland with over 4500 inhabitants. The guide will tell you about the history of the city, the Greenlandic culture and the modern life 300 km north of the Arctic Circle.We will visit the fishermen at the harbour and the hunters at their trading post “Brædtet”. We will show you the church and the house where the famous explorer Knud Rasmussen was born.

In the late evening join the Midnight boat tour amongst the floating icebergs - an exceptional experience you do not want to miss out while visiting Ilulissat. During the year, more than 46 km3 of ice flows into the fiord. The result is gigantic icebergs, which can be more than 100 metres on each side and with a height on more than 100 metres above the water surface. These giants strand at the end of the fiord, and that gives a good opportunity to sail among them.The icebergs are beautiful every kind of weather; in the sunshine the contrasts are very clear, the blue shades are very beautiful, when it is cloudy and the midnight sun casts a unique glow on the icebergs during the night. The boat trip at bright night is definitely an extraordinary experience.

Day 2: Trip to Camp Eqi Very few places in Greenland are as beautiful as the Eqi glacier, which comes out in a fiord about 80 km north of Ilulissat. It is possible by boat to go very close to the edge of the glacier and see big pieces of ice break off. The crashes are enormous and the sight of the icebergs falling into the water is impressive.

Meeting time for the boat transfer: 06:45Departure from Ilulissat: 07:00In a modern and convenient tourist boat with room both outdoors and indoors. There is tea and coffee on the way and opportunity to buy beer and water. After departure a light breakfast is served. During the boat trip the guide will inform the passengers about the landscape and nature that can be seen on the way.

When getting close to the glacier a delicious lunch is served at 11:30The boat will stay in front of the glacier for approximately 1½ hour, while we hope to spot some amazing calvings.

Arrival at Port Victor which is the ”harbour” at Ice Camp Eqi: 14:00Only the ones that are staying in Ice Camp Eqi go on land.

1 night accommodation in a 2 person hut and includes dinner, breakfast and bed linen

Optional hike from Camp Eqi * 4-5 hour hike to the lagoon, the moraine and the glacier.From the huts we hike around the small lagoon at the southern end of the glacier. There are often large flocks of geese in the lagoon in the breeding season. The trip goes further up the moraine where we can look down into the enormous cracks in the glacier few meters away from us. From here we will also get an overview of a large part of the 70m high glacier-front and we will see the impressive calvings from the glacier.

There are other smaller hikes available in the area. More details at Cafe Victor.

Day 3: Back to IlulissatDeparture from Port Victor: 14:30The route back to Ilulissat goes the same way as yesterday. Coffee/tea and cake is served in the late afternoon. Seals and whales are often spotted on the way. Drop off at hotel in Ilulissat – 2 nights

Day 4: Short 2 hr hike to the old settlement of SermermiutThe beautiful icebergs of Ilulissat create the wing for the abandoned settlement Sermermiut, which is situated one and a half kilometre south of the city. The different Inuit cultures have lived here during the last 4000 years, and today you can still find artefacts, which witness their presence. Hear the story about the life and the customs of the Greenlanders before the Europeans´ arrival; see the ruins, the kitchen mitten, and feel the permafrost with your own hands.

Visitors often ask, if they cannot walk these treks themselves? And the answer is yes. But most people find it safe having a guide with them when hiking the Greelandic mountains.Furthermore the historic places will be pointed out, which can be difficult to find and it is always nice to share the experience with somebody.On the short trek we turn back by the view at the Kællingekløften .

Day 5:Free morning in Ilulissat or possibilty for optional tour or a short hike in the area before it is time for transfer to the airport. Departure at 10:15/10:45*, arrival at Reykjavik domestic airport at 18:25/18:55*.

*Later departure arrival times are scheduled in September.

Ilulissat is the Greenlandic word for “the icebergs” and because of its close proximity to the picturesque Ilulissat Icefjord, it is Greenland’s most popular tourist destination on the west coast. With the population of about 4,600 it is the the seat of the municipality of Ilulissat, and also the third largest settlement in Greenland after Nuuk and Sisimiut.

In Danish it has been named Jakobshavn – after the founder Jakob Severin. The town has about 3500 sled dogs, which underlines the importance of the dogsled as means of transportation even in a large modern town.

The Ilulissat Icefjord was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2004 and is 40 km long situated close to Ilulissat town. At its eastern end is the Jakobshavn Isbræ glacier, the most productive glacier in the Northern Hemisphere. The glacier flows at a rate of 20–35 m per day, resulting in around 20 billion tons of icebergs calved off and passing out of the fjord every year. Icebergs breaking from the glacier are often so large that they are too tall to float down the fjord and thus lie stuck on the bottom of its shallower areas, sometimes for years, until they are broken up by the force of the glacier and icebergs further up the fjord. On breaking up, the icebergs emerge into the open sea and initially travel north with ocean currents before turning south and running into the Atlantic Ocean. Larger icebergs typically do not melt until they reach 40-45 degrees north (south of the United Kingdom and level with New York City).Note: Departure from Reykjavík domestic airport. As all local tours depend upon weather and ice conditions, they can only be booked after arrival. Flight schedules may change due to unfavorable weather or ice conditions.